The European Commission has today adopted three draft laws on animal cloning and on novel food which will provide legal certainty in this field.

Thursday 19 December 2013 (4 years 2 months 3 days ago)

The European Commission has today adopted three draft laws on animal cloning and on novel food which will provide legal certainty in this field. Two proposals will ban the use of the cloning technique in the EU for farm animals1 and the imports of these animal clones. The marketing of food from animal clones will also be prohibited. These proposals intend to address animal welfare and other ethical concerns related to the use of the technique. The draft law on novel food revises the existing Novel Food Regulation with a view to improving access of new and innovative food to the EU market, while still maintaining a high level of consumer protection.

EU Commissioner in charge of Health Tonio Borg said "Today's initiatives on animal cloning respond to animal welfare concerns as well as consumer perceptions on food from animal clones in a realistic and workable way. The changes on novel food will create a more efficient system. It will offer EU consumers the benefit of a broad choice of foodstuffs and provides a favourable environment for Europe's food industry."

Key elements on Cloning

No cloning for farming purposes will be carried out in the EU and no such clone will be imported as long animal welfare concerns persist.

A temporary ban on using the cloning technique on farmed animals as well as on the placing on the market live animal clones and embryo clones is foreseen in the first draft Directive. The second draft Directive ensures that food such as meat or milk from animal clones is not placed on the EU market.

Cloning will however not be prohibited for purposes such as research, conservation of rare breeds and endangered species or use of animals for the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, where the use of the technique can be justified.

Key elements on Novel Food

Under the draft Regulation, novel food would be subject to a simpler, clearer and more efficient authorisation procedure centralised at EU level, which should enable safe and innovative food to reach the EU market faster.

Novel food generally refers to food which was not consumed in the EU to a significant degree before May 1997, i.e. before the current Regulation entered into force and in particular to food produced using new techniques and technologies, such as nanomaterials.

Special provisions are also made for food which has not been marketed in the EU but which has a history of safe use in non-EU countries. This creates a more balanced system and a positive environment for trade.

Protecting innovation is also a feature of the draft law. Under the new system, in case of innovation supported by new scientific developments, the food company which submitted the application, would be given the authorisation to market the food for 5 years before it can be produced by others.

Next steps

Other EU institutions, including the European Parliament and the Council will consider the Commission's draft legislation and will adopt their positions in due course. At this stage, it can be estimated that the draft legislation will enter into force in 2016 at the earliest.